Car-truck side frame



March l1, 1930. J. w.-BETT|:NDORF CAR TRUCK SIDE FRAME Filed Feb. 25. 1928 INVENTOR 7K MM BY f ATTORNEY I Patented Mar. 1:1, 19,30

' JOSEPH W.- BETTENDOBF, F BETTENDOBF, IOWA.

can-matrox* sinn v raum appunti@ ma :february 23,1925. semi no. 256,300. 'I

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein made.

Heretofore railroad car truck side framesA of the integral type have been sand cast. The resulting cast metal has been porousin nature, and metallographically has been that ordinarily known as Widmanstttian structure. As is well known, steel in this condition does not possess its best properties, and an annealing or other heat treating operation is usually necessary before the side frame is used in the car truck. Moreover, 'the surface of the resulting castings has ordinarily been quite rough and impregnated with particles of burned sand. Fins, surface blow holes, and other surface irregularities have also occurred as the result of forming the side frames by sand casting. To prepare such castings for use in railroad cars, it has beenv usually found necessary to chip olf surface 3o irregularities and to sandblast or chip the exterior surfaces of the side frame. Furthermore, it has been necessaryto chip or otherwise mechanically prepare those portions of the side frame which must be-of relatively accurate dimensions and relatively smooth, such as, for example, the seats for' springs, holsters, and bearings. Such treatment and surface finishing has been relatively expensive andhas 'necessarily decreased the rate o'f production and increased .the cost of the side frames.

By my invention I have provided a cast steel integral side frame of solid, non-porous, homogeneous metal, said metal having generally advantageous metallurgical characteristics. My improved side frame further has smooth exterior surface as cast, whereby substantially no surface finishing is required. -A form of side` frame to which my invention is applicable is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure- 1 is a top plan view of the side frame;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the side frame 55 shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a, vertical section taken 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical'section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 4.

The side frame illustrated is shown as comprising longitudinally extending top and bottom members or chords 1 and 2 respectively, and two substantially vertical columns or struts 3 extending between members 1 and o5 2. The top member 1 is connected to the bottom member 2 adjacent the ends of the frame.l Struts 3 divide the space between members on line ll' and 2 into three apertures, the central one of V`which is roughly quadrilateral and the other two of which are roughly triangular. The members 1 and 2 are shown as U-shaped in cross section, the central web of the top member being on top and the bottom member l being Aon Athe bottom. The struts 3 are -inte'- 75 gral with members 1 and 2 'and are also U-shaped in cross section, the central webs of these struts being on the sides towardy` the central aperture. The portions4 of the webs of the struts 3 form bolster guides. The porso tion of the member 2 intermediate the struts 3 has an upper plate 5 forminga spring seat, said spring 'seat having, an aperture 6 substantially centrally thereof. At the end of the side frame adjacent the junctions of the ss members 1 and 2 are integrally formed the journal boxes 7 The top member 1 is shown as extending over the ournal boxes 7, the ends of the member 1 being shown as open. Brake hanger brackets 8 are shown as formed 90 vintegrally lwith the top member 1.

\A side frame having the advantageous features of my invention previously mentioned may be obtained by casting said side frame with the outer surfaces thereof against metal parts.-` This is preferably accomplished in a metal permanent mold. The bearing surfaces of the side frame, such as the surfaces 4. and 5, are referably .cast against metal moldparts. e interior surfaces of the side frame, such as the interior surfaces of the journal boxes and the interior surfaces of the U-shaped members may be formed agamst sand or metal, as desired. v

I have found that by casting a side frame in a permanent mold the grain structure and general metallurgical characteristics of the side frame metal are greatly improved whereby annealing or other heat treatment of the side frame generally is ordinarily made unnecessary with the obvious economic advantages.

I have further found that the metal of side frames cast in permanent molds is substantially non-porous, whereby the strength thereof is greatly increased over the porous structure which, as is well known, obtains in the sand cast side frames.

I have furthermore found that side frames cast in ermanent molds have exterior surfaces w ich are smooth and uniform and which require generally no chipping or sand blasting to prepare said castings for use in car trucks.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a new and novel side frame of the integral cast steel type having advantageous characteristics not heretofore obtained.

It will further be noted that I have provided a new and novel car truck side frame havin smooth surface characteristics as cast, such t at further surface cleanings and preparation is substantially eliminated.

It will also be noted that I have rovided a new and novel integral cast steel si e frame of improved metallurgical characteristics whereby a stronger article is formed not requiringlheat treatment subsequent to casting.

Furt ermore, it is to be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown and described, and the particularl procedure set forth, are presented for `urposes of explanation and illustration and) that various modications of said ap aratus and procedure can be made without eparting from my invention as delined in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

The hereindescribed cast car truck side `,frame member having integral bolster guides and an integral spring seat, the external surfaces of said frame member as cast bein of smooth, ne grained, homogeneous su ace structure free from surface im rfections, and said bolster ides and spring seat as cast being ne gramed, strong and relatively hard, thereby providing eiiicient bearing suraces.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature'.

` JOSEPH W. BETTENDORF. l 

